# Iowa Caucuses **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 4, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326 "2012-01-04T02:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/81 "2012-01-04T14:42:14Z")
Yeah, in the heat of the moment people might think Santorum isn’t so bad,but once they take a good hard look they’re going to be disgusted by what they see. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/82 "2012-01-04T15:08:47Z")
I think Heman Cain got 50something votes and ‘undecided’ got around 150. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/83 "2012-01-04T15:16:52Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I just heard snippets of Gingrich’s concession speech, in which he suggested that negative campaigning is dishonoring American soldiers, somehow. What a dick. Please. The GOP over the past few decades has turned negative campaigning into an art form with Gingrich being one of the chief artistes. He’s just pissed that he’s finally feeling some of the blowback. This guy is an ass clown through and through. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/84 "2012-01-04T15:25:32Z")
Bachmann has cancelled her trip to South Carolina, and scheduled a “media availibility” for later this morning. It appears that we will not have the Congresswoman with the crazy eyes to kick around any more. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/85 "2012-01-04T15:30:56Z")
Well if all the anti-Romney voters coalesce around Santorum he could become an effective challenger, perhaps the winner. I would love that … Santorum opposes CONTRACEPTION, ffs, he has NO chance in a general election. And him losing to Obama in a landslide might awaken the rest of the Republicans that the social conservatives are more of a liability than an asset on the national stage. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/86 "2012-01-04T15:31:26Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Wow. The people of Iowa really are that out of touch. _Santorum???_ > > Jesus H. Fucking Christ on a broken Segway. Just what are those people thinking? > > According to the CNN page, 68% of the people voting are over 45. I have to say, this year I would attribute this less to the qaulity of the Iowa GOP and more to the quality of candidates that were sent here. I just Thank the FSM that it is over i won’t have to explain to pollsters from the Ron Paul campaign 20 times a day that I am a registered Dem and would not be at the caucus and do not support any of the clowns that the GOP are using to ruin our country. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/87 "2012-01-04T15:32:42Z")
From a practical standpoint, this was a tie, but explaining an extraordinarily narrow win has to be easier for Romney than explaining an extraordinarily narrow loss. The coverage of this should be interesting: if everybody focuses on the fact that Romney won, it’s good for him; if they focus on the fact that Iowans were so desperate for an alternative that Santorum got the same amount of support as Romney, that’s not so good. Perry is going to drop out sooner or later: his poll numbers have been steadily falling since he entered the race and it’s too late to recover. Bachmann may also quit, since she canceled a trip to South Carolina. I think she’s been hoping she would get another turn, but it’s not happening. This has to be a very disappointing result for Paul, which I think is why he took a swipe at Huntsman in his speech: it looked like he really had a shot to win this, which even he didn’t seem to expect. He finished a strong third, but it’s a loss and if he couldn’t win this I don’t know what he can expect to win. He’s going to stay in this for a while, though. I don’t know what the race in New Hampshire is going to look like. Santorum won’t seriously challenge Romney there, but Gingrich is furious about all the negative ads that crushed his campaign. Say what you will about Gingrich, but I’m not sure there has ever been anyone in politics who is less concerned about being a public hypocrite. I guess that counts for something. I don’t know if Paul can make a dent in New Hampshire and we’ll see how much Gingrich’s attacks can hurt Romney. And Huntsman is making an effort in New Hampshire after skipping Iowa. The dropout question is actually interesting because it opens up the questions of where those voters go. Do they join up behind one candidate and maybe push him just ahead of Romney? Do they stay divided so Romney can just stay ahead? A bigger race may be the best outcome for him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/88 "2012-01-04T15:45:35Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The dropout question is actually interesting because it opens up the questions of where those voters go. Do they join up behind one candidate and maybe push him just ahead of Romney? Do they stay divided so Romney can just stay ahead? A bigger race may be the best outcome for him. Do the dropouts negotiate for a Cabinet post in exchange for exhorting their voters to get behind the guy? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/89 "2012-01-04T16:01:40Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Do the dropouts negotiate for a Cabinet post in exchange for exhorting their voters to get behind the guy? Not really. I think people who’ve stayed in the race a long time and have a large base of support might have something to negotiate with, but if you polled at 10 percent in Iowa, you don’t have much to offer. By the way, John McCain is going to endorse Romney today, and Bachmann is officially suspending her campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/90 "2012-01-04T16:06:09Z")
Newt was looking and acting pouty and sulky yesterday. My bet is he’ll drop out after this poor showing as well. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/91 "2012-01-04T16:08:25Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Newt was looking and acting pouty and sulky yesterday. My bet is he’ll drop out after this poor showing as well. Not yet. He’s trying to go bigger in New Hampshire and pretty much vowed to go after Romney with everything he has. They’re having another debate in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/92 "2012-01-04T16:11:03Z")
Damn. Now Perry and Bachmann will have to go back to playing their part in actual governing. Not good for the people of Texas, and not good for the Minnesota and the US. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/93 "2012-01-04T16:15:43Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Not really. I think people who’ve stayed in the race a long time and have a large base of support might have something to negotiate with, but if you polled at 10 percent in Iowa, you don’t have much to offer. If you just won Iowa by eight votes, how much do you need? As you just hinted, isn’t a big question whether all of 'em unify behind the Anybody But Romney candidate or whether some of 'em break for Romney? It’s not just about throwing your six or eight percent behind Romney; it’s six or eight percent you don’t throw behind The Other Guy. You wouldn’t haggle with the also-rans for that? > [@](#): > > By the way, John McCain is going to endorse Romney today Yeah, I saw that – on GMA? – around eight this morning. (As it happens, that’s what got me thinking about who else is about to do likewise.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/94 "2012-01-04T16:19:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > . . . and Bachmann is officially suspending her campaign. I hope she uses a breakneck drop. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/95 "2012-01-04T16:25:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Just heard Gingrich on the radio saying how (despite running fourth) he’s not dropping out, going to fight it in NH, etc. Gingrich is obviously still thinking he can win South Carolina. And maybe he can. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/96 "2012-01-04T16:40:31Z")
AP just reported that Bachmann is out, and that Perry twittered “On to South Carolina!” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/97 "2012-01-04T16:42:04Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > If you just won Iowa by eight votes, how much do you need? Iowa is one state out of 50, and it’s not a very big one. Do you remember who finished fourth or fifth or sixth for either side in 2008? If you last a while in the campaign and have a significant number of voters (and delegates) who are really committed to you, then you have something to bargain with and your support means something. If you drop out after Iowa or New Hampshire, not that many people liked you in the first place and you’ll be forgotten in a few weeks. Take a look at the last few cabinets and you’ll see that there aren’t a lot of unsuccessful presidential cabinets in there. I’m pretty sure Hillary Clinton is the only one, and she didn’t get it by negotiating with Obama during the primaries. Maybe John Edwards would be on the list if not for the National Enquirer, but I think all he was able to negotiate from Obama was _consideration_ for the AG spot- one he probably wouldn’t have gotten anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/98 "2012-01-04T16:51:25Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > If I was Santorum’s campaign manager, I would get volunteers in groups of nine Send them out in platoons of three groups – if candidates can come back from oblivion, why not a slogan like 9-9-9? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/99 "2012-01-04T16:53:39Z")
Isn’t it [illegal](http://www.fordoconnell.com/romney-gingrich-tout-future-presidential-cabinets/) for candidates to promise cabinet posts? (Not that it would necessarily stop them from doing it, of course…) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326/100 "2012-01-04T16:53:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Iowa is one state out of 50, and it’s not a very big one. Do you remember who finished fourth or fifth or sixth for either side in 2008? VP Joe Biden finished fifth – which ain’t as good as Hillary Clinton finishing third, but probably ain’t a bad example of a guy to cut a deal with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-caucuses/608326.md?page=6)